Last year's update to the Dodge Caliber, which saw the high-riding small car get a revised interior and little else, will likely be its last.

Reports have circulated for some time that a replacement for the small crossover is on the way, and according to Chrysler enthusiast website Allpar, dealers in the US have been advised to get final orders placed before November.

The report follows talk earlier this year of Chrysler and Fiat developing an Alfa Romeo Giulietta-based Caliber replacement, with a debut planned for January's Detroit Auto Show.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, has previously confirmed that a new Dodge small car will be built on the Giulietta's underpinnings, known internally as the C-Evo platform.

“The new architecture, which debuted with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, is the most advanced mass-produced car Fiat has ever had. At Chrysler, Dodge will use it first,” he said.

Marchionne's comments and the new reports are in line with the company's roadmap, pointing to a Fiat-based model replacing the current Dodge Caliber in 2012.

Above: Reported concept art for the Caliber's replacement.

While little else is known, Marchionne promised the new model will deliver fuel consumption figures of around 5.5 to 6.0 l/100km - suggesting power will come from one of Fiat's smaller-capacity MultiAir engines.

The new model's styling remains shrouded, although concept art that surfaced online last year (above) offers a glimpse at what could be the sportiest compact car to wear a Dodge badge in a long time.